Conservative MPs Lisa Raitt, right, and Luc Berthold react to the government's cabinet shuffle during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Kawai

The federal Tories say the new Trudeau cabinet will only create more conflict with provincial governments.

The Conservative deputy leader took aim at two moves in particular in a press conference following the Wednesday morning cabinet shuffle in Ottawa. Lisa Raitt noted the move of Dominic LeBlanc from Fisheries and Oceans to Intergovernmental Affairs and the creation of a new ministry of Border Security and Organized Crime led by former Toronto police Chief Bill Blair.

Raitt said LeBlanc’s appointment was one of the most “interesting” on Wednesday because, she said, in effect the prime minister “is demoting himself,” she said.

She said LeBlanc has been “heavy-handed” in the past. She reminded reporters that LeBlanc had demanded the resignation of 33 Crown corporation appointees selected by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper. As House Leader he was behind the notorious Motion Six which if it had been adopted, would have let the federal cabinet extend sitting hours in the House until a minister or parliamentary secretary decided to adjourn proceedings, something that would be “deemed adopted without debate or amendment.”

It was a move to control Commons debate. The motion was later withdrawn because of widespread opposition by the Conservatives.

“Beneath that charming exterior is a very politically savvy individual who is saying this government is ready to take on the provinces,” Raitt said. “It’s another broken promise because they [the Liberals] said those divisive politics were done.”

After being sworn in, LeBlanc promised to work with the provinces to solve some of the country’s most pressing issues.

“At the end of the day, Canadians want their governments to work together,” Leblanc said. “I think we have more in common than we do apart.”

Blair’s appointment may be most contentious in Ontario. As Toronto police chief Blair’s department investigated Ontario premier Doug Ford’s brother, the late mayor of Toronto Rob Ford, over the latter’s drug use. Blair served a notice of defamation against Doug Ford after he accused Blair of leaking damaging information about his brother to the Toronto Star.

Ratio said she believed the “acrimony” between the two will intensify the confrontation between the federal government and Ontario over an influx of asylum seekers into Ontario.

“That appointment, while it looks good on paper, is fraught with difficulties,” she warned.

The Tories are already taking Blair on over that issue.

The Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel is already demanding that Blair appear before the Commons Immigration committee this summer to talk about what the government intends to do to ease the pressure on cities in Ontario and elsewhere.